Looking North – Photography

Jessica Auer sets out to explore Iceland’s sightseeing destinations, and records tourists’ surroundings through her photographic lens. In her pictures, travellers and their material world blend together with the natural surroundings. Tourism is manifested as a transformative force within the Icelandic landscape, and is depicted with visual clarity. Jessica Auer stands apart from her subject, observing from afar like a visitor in an unfamiliar world. Altered landscapes have been addressed through contemporary photography for quite some time, and here, the tourism sector plays a significant role.

Jessica Auer is a Canadian artist who teaches photography at Concordia University, in Montréal. She resides for half the year in Seyðisfjörður, East Iceland, where she is the director of Ströndin Studio.

The artist would like to thank the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Post-Image Cluster at the Milieux Institute for Arts and Culture for their generous support.

This exhibition is the National Museum’s contribution to the Icelandic Photo Festival 2020.